Oil clarifier



Patented July 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE other impurities particularly in crude oil prior to refining.

I accomplish the objects of this invention by a process of washing thin films of oil submerged below their natural level in water or other suitable cleansing solution or solutions in the manner described in the accompanying specification and drawing in which:

The iigure is a vertical sectional view of an apparatus embodying and for the practice of my invention.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the view in which I is a receptacle having arranged therein a plurality of partitions or surfaces 24 provided with escapement ports or the like 3 and 4. y

An intake pipe or conveyor 5 enters the receptacle I at any desired distance from the bottom of the said receptacle through which oil and emulsions may enter.

An outlet pipe 6 for the clarified oil leads from the top of the receptacle.

An intake pipe or conveyor 'l for the water or 4other cleansing solution enters the receptacle at,

taining salt water is forced into the receptacle" either by gravity or pressure through the pipe line 5 entering the receptacle at a point below its natural level. Due to the difference in specific gravity the oil rises to the under surface of the rst partition shown from the bottom and passes in an upward direction through the escapement port 3 thence to the lower surface of the next partition and so on until it reaches the top of the receptacle after which, due to its specific gravity it rises in pipe 6 from whence it may be conveyed to any desired receptacle.

During this entire operationlwater is passed through the device in an opposite direction to the oil and while the oil is spread in thin films over the under surfaces of the partitions the emulsions and other impurities are removed and carried out over the upper surfaces of the several partitions by the action of the water owing in an opposite direction and allowed to pass through the several escapement ports 4 arriving at the exit I0 and passing out through the pipe 9. The upward course of the lighter liquid through the apparatus is indicated by the arrows b and the downward course of the heavy liquid is indicated by the arrows a. It will be observed that in each part or chamber of the tank the iiows of the two liquids are opposite to each other, so that there are formed inthe operation of the apparatus, bodies of lighter and heavier liquids which are passed respectively upwards and downwards, the bodies of said liquids also passing each other horizontally or transversely in opposite directions. n

It will be observed that the escapement ports 3 and 4 in the partitions project above and below the partition. It will be further observed that by this procedure that the port which extends in a n downward direction conveys the cleansing solution below the lm of oil on the under surface of the partition thus offering no interference. The escapement port extending in an upward direction conveys the oil to a desired distance above the lower level of the cleansing solution as it flows along the surface of the partition. Il and l2 are. baiile plates arranged respectively at the exit l0 and at the entrance of the pipe 1.

It is to be understood that the oil outlet 6 and the water outlet 9 shall terminate at desired points above and below each other, respectively, so that the proper proportions of water and oil shall be retained in the receptacle for eicient operation. Both of said outlet pipes terminate a considerable distance above the said receptacle.

While I have shown and described one adaptation of my invention I may employ any modication that fairly comes within the scope of same.

Having now described the nature of my invention and the manner in which same may be performed what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A separator and purifier for liquids of lighter specic gravities, which consists of a tank having a plurality of partitions forming a plurality of chambers, each of said chambers communicating with another by conduits connecting respectively vwith the top and bottom of each partition and extending into the interior of the next upper and lower chamber, the said conduits in one partition being at the opposite side of each chamber to the said conduits in the next partition, discharge ,lines leading from the upper chamber and lower chamber for the light and heavy liquids respectively, said light 1iqu1'd discharge line terminating above the said heavy liquid discharge and both of said discharge lines terminating above the top of said chambers, and supply lines for the light and heavy liquids respectively leading into separate chambers at points above and below the source of the said heavier and lighter liquid discharge lines.

2. A purier for liquids having in combination a receptacle provided with partitions separating the interior of the receptacle into chambers one above another, said partitions having downwardly extending conduits for the downflowot heavier liquid arranged alternately at either side of the middle oi the receptacle to cause lateral flow of the heavier liquid across the receptacle between said partitions, said partitions having upwardly extending conduits for the upilow of the lighter liquid, said conduits being arranged alternately at either side of the middle of the receptacle to cause lateral flow of the lighter liquid between said partitions in washing contact with and oppositely to the flow of said heavier liquid. 10

WILLIAM ROBERT MOBLEY. 

